Politics
Gaibandha-5 polls: Not a reckless decision, says CEC
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Thursday said that suspension of the election at the Gaibandha-5 constituency was not a “reckless” decision by the Election Commission.
He said that it was rather a “thoughtful” decision, which was taken through consultation with all the commissioners.
The CEC said the commission would decide its next course of action about the by-election after receiving an investigation report as they have formed a three-member committee to probe all allegations of irregularities.
"The Committee will submit their report within seven days. The commission will take its final decision after receiving the report," he told a news briefing in the EC Headquarters in Dhaka.
The CEC said it would not be logical to evaluate upcoming elections in light of the incidents that happened in Gaibandha as the commission had successfully conducted previous elections in Cumilla City Corporation and Jhenaidah Municipality with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
He also said local administration cooperated in conducting the election in Gaibandha, but the situation went beyond control and it was not possible to restore order during voting.
“We instructed again and again to bring back the order during the voting. The discipline was absent in the entire constituency," he said.
The commission on Wednesday suspended the by-election at Gainbandha-5 parliamentary seat amid widespread allegations of vote rigging and voter intimidation. The CEC said they had to take the decision because of malpractices on the election day.
Read: Gaibandha-5 by-election cancelled over 'malpractices'
According to Section 91 of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), if the commission finds that an election isn’t taking place fairly, the EC can stop election in some or the entire constituency, the CEC said as he clarified the reasons behind the suspension.
After the decision, ruling Awami League candidate Mahmud Hasan Ripon criticised the commission and demanded that it declare results.
Gaibandha-5 constituency consists of 10 unions of Saghata upazila and 7 unions of Phulchhari upazila.
After former MP and Deputy Speaker of the 11th National Parliament Fazle Rabbi Mia died on July 23 the Gaibandha-5 seat fell vacant.
Dhaka’s election to UNHRC disproves BNP’s propaganda on HR violations: Info Minister
Bangladesh getting elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) with the highest votes has proved false the opposition BNP’s propaganda that human rights are being violated in the country, said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday.
BNP and certain anti-national individuals and organisations are continuously spreading propaganda that human rights are being violated in Bangladesh, said the minister while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.
He said that these elements have been trying to create confusion by sending wrong information to different countries.
Read: Bangladesh elected UNHRC member because of experience with rights issues: Shahriar Alam
But Bangladesh has been elected as a member of the UNHRC, proving the propaganda false, he added. “Rather, it has proved that Sheikh Hasina's government is on the right track.”
Bangladesh has bagged a 'historic win' in the election for the membership of the UNHRC for the term 2023-25, securing 160 votes out of 189 that were cast in Tuesday’s election.
This would be the fifth term for Bangladesh as a member of the 47-member UNHRC. It secured one of the four seats up for grabs for countries from the Asia Pacific Group, receiving the highest votes out of all the candidates in the region.
In fact the human rights were violated extremely in the country during the regime of military ruler Ziaur Rahman, the minister said, adding that thousands of army officers and soldiers were killed without trial during his time.
Even executions were carried out before the trials and these are documented, he added.
Thousands of Bangladesh Awami League leaders and activists were tortured and killed during Zia's tenure, Hasan claimed.
Following Zia’s footstep, the government of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was involved in the August 21 grenade attacks, killings of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, Awami League leader Ahsanullah Master and journalist Humyun Kabir Balu and many others.
Read: Pay attention to Palestine, Myanmar, Hasan to UNHRC
Unfortunately, no trials were held in these cases, he added.
“We will present before the world how the BNP had violated human rights by killing people alive through arson attacks in 2013, 2014 and 2015,” he said.
The minister also said the families of the victims, who were killed by Ziaur Rahman, formed an organisation named 'Mayer Kanna' and are holding human chains at different parts of the country, including Dhaka, and Chattogram, demanding justice.
“I want to know how BNP leaders including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will respond to this now,” he said.
Regarding the ongoing protests of BNP, Hasan said if it tries to create anarchy in the name of divisional rallies, the government will take appropriate measures for the security of the people.
“And if the people resist, our party will also stand by them. Besides, by-elections will be held there if any lawmaker of BNP resigns,” he said.
Oust Hasina, restore democracy, Mirza Fakhrul tells Ctg rally
Accusing the government of turning Bangladesh into a crematorium, BNP leaders on Wednesday said that removing the ruling Awami League from power was the only option to restore democracy in the country.
“We fought the War of Liberation for democracy. After 50 years of independence, we are fighting again for its restoration. It’s a big and tough struggle, and we must win it,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told a massive anti-government rally in Chattogram.
“We have no other alternative but to win this battle. Either we’ll turn victorious, or we’ll die in this fight,” he told his supporters on Polo Ground in the city.
He warned that if their current movement fails, democracy will vanish from the country and the nation’s existence will be at stake.
“We want to get democracy and people’s rights back,” he said.
As part of the party’s planned divisional programmes, Chattogram city unit BNP organised the rally in the port city where tens of thousands of their activists and leaders joined.
Wednesday’s programme was the first divisional rally to denounce the ongoing power crisis, unusual price hikes of daily essentials and killing of five opposition activists in police firing in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Jashore during recent anti-government protests.
The BNP on September 27 announced to hold public rallies in all divisional cities. The party will conclude the divisional rallies through a mass gathering in Dhaka city on December 10.
On Wednesday, Mirza Fakhrul also accused the government of destroying the country’s economy and all the state institutions by indulging in corruption and plundering over the last 15 years.
This monstrous regime of Awami League had turned Bangladesh into a crematorium. “They looted public money and laundered it abroad,” he said.
Referring to the US sanctions on RAB, the BNP Secretary General said the sanctions should be imposed now on the government instead of the elite force. “Because the incidents of enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing have been carried out at the behest of the government.”
Fakhrul also said the United Nations and different international human rights agencies say that enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings take place in Bangladesh as the judiciary cannot function independently.
About the Election Commission's recent meeting with deputy commissioners and superintendents of police, Fakhrul said police and bureaucrats such as DCs are least bothered about what the Election Commission says, as they only follow the instructions of the Prime Minister.
"So, a credible election is not possible without a neutral government,” he said..
Noting that the current government is an unelected one, he said that it has no mandate to rule the country. “The people of the country didn’t accept this regime.”
The BNP leader said people are going through serious ordeals as the prices of daily commodities have gone up abnormally
Read:BNP rally going on amid tight security in Chattogram
BNP rally going on amid tight security in Chattogram
Tens of thousands of opposition BNP activists and leaders joined an anti-government rally in Chattogram city amid tight security on Wednesday as part of the party’s series of protests.
The rally began on Wednesday afternoon at the city’s historic Polo Ground where presence of police and other security officials was noticeable as authorities say they remained alert to prevent any untoward incident from happening.
Read:Anti-govt Movement: BNP holds talks with Jagpa, Muslim League
Organisers said the rally was meant to denounce price hike of daily essentials and fuels, death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Jashore, and to ensure freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The BNP has long been demanding that next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government--a demand sharply rejected by the ruling Awami League.
BNP provides financial assistance to families of two slain Jubo Dal activists
BNP on Monday provided financial support to the families of two Jubo Dal workers who were shot dead by last month reportedly the police in BNP’s political programmes in Munshiganj and Narayanganj.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir handed over the party’s cash assistance to the families of Shahidul Islam Shaon of Munshiganj and Shaon Pradhan of Narayanganj at the party Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman virtually joined the programme.
Speaking at the programme, Fakhrul assured that their party will stand by the family members of those who are sacrificing their lives in the ongoing movement for the sake of democracy and people’s voting rights.
Anti-govt Movement: BNP holds talks with Jagpa, Muslim League
As part of the party’s second round of talks, BNP on Monday sat with Jatiya Gonotantrik Party (Jagpa) and Muslim League, the two components of the 20-party alliance, to discuss the issues and demands of its planned simultaneous anti-government movement.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had separate meetings with the leaders of the two 20-party alliance partners at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Talking to reporters after the meetings, Fakhrul said, "We have discussed with the two parties the demands of the simultaneous movement and agreed to initiate the agitation.”
Thousands are ready to die to oust AL government & restore democracy: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said that thousands of leaders and workers of the party are ready to sacrifice their lives to defeat the government on the streets for restoration of democracy and people’s rights.
"I declare in clear terms that we want to establish peace, bring back democracy and the rights of people in the country,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader claimed that seven leaders and workers of their party have already sacrificed their lives in the ongoing anti-government movement. “Thousands of people will sacrifice their lives (if necessary), but we’ll definitely restore democracy."
He urged the government to take a safe exit by quitting power before time runs out fast. “Hand over power to a neutral caretaker government by dissolving the parliament. Then the caretaker government will form a fresh election commission to conduct a parliamentary election and thus a new system of government will be introduced in the country.”
"Otherwise, Fakhrul warned, the government won't find a way to escape." This is high time for you to take the escape route before facing the public wrath.”
Shaheed Jihad Smrity Parishad arranged the discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) marking the 32nd death anniversary of Nazir Uddin Jihad who was gunned down in the capital on October 10, 1990, during the anti-Ershad movement.
A group of student leaders of the 90s, led by Amanullah Aman, and Jihad Smriti Parishad also paid homage to the Jihad by placing wreaths at his Memorial plaque at Dainik Bangla crossing in the capital.
Fakhrul said they are confident that their ongoing street movement will yield a positive outcome as people have started waking up. "We have confidence in our people. We believe that the people of this country have never accepted injustice and never allowed anyone to win against democracy."
The BNP leader urged the young generation to come forward with more vigour in the interests of the country and its people instead of just being worried about their own fate. “This movement that we’ve initiated is to liberate Bangladesh. Join this movement by organising the country’s people and we must resolve the political crisis on the streets. We will defeat them on the streets.”
About the ongoing countrywide power outages, he said people are facing load-shedding at least three-four times a day and for up to 6 hours in many areas in the country. “This government celebrated self-sufficiency in electricity earlier by beating the drums and displaying fireworks. But we’re now facing load shedding only because of the government’s theft and corruption.”
The BNP leader said a huge sum of public money has been plundered in the name of the quick rental power plants. "Around Tk 28,000 crores have been paid in a year as capacity charges,” he said.
He said the garment-run factories in the country are facing various problems as the demand for their products is decreasing in the world. “On the one hand, the prices of fuel, gas and dollar have increased. So, it has become difficult for the garment traders to survive.”
Fakhrul further said the common people and labourers are going through serious miseries due to the growing price hikes of daily essentials. “We want to get rid of such a situation in the country. We’re going to people to mobilise them (for waging a movement.”
He recalled the contributions of Jihad and other martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the 90s and the current movement for the restoration of democracy. “Let us move forward and defeat this monstrous regime and establish a people's government,” he said.
JaPa won't be slave to any party: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader has said they are currently neither with ruling party Awami League, nor with the BNP.
“JP can become friends with any party but won’t be their slave,” Quader said.
He said this in a meeting with leaders of the Mymensingh district unit of Jatiya Party and affiliate organisations on Sunday, at the Banani party office.
“Seeing Jatiya Party’s politics many have thought we have joined hands with someone else. We are actually our party and it is not Jatiya Party’s politics to become someone’s broker,” said GM Quader.
“Doing politics from under someone's shadow, as someone's broker or servant does not earn a political party respect,” he added.
Awami League and BNP have both divided people through their corruption, misrule and factionalism, said the Jatiya Party chairman
“People of the country want to see a third power outside AL and BNP. They want to see the Jatiya Party in power again,” said GM Quader.
He said, “We have been opposing holding the national election with the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) since the beginning. We think there is scope of rigging in EVMs, while declared results also cannot be challenged.”
Loadshedding has become a terrible menace: BNP
The BNP on Sunday slammed the government for the “intolerable” loadshedding across the country, saying it has exposed the government’s widespread plundering in the name of development in the power sector.
“The widespread corruption and looting have now been manifested. The power sector was the sanctuary for plunder by Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government. Because of that, the real scenario of electricity has got exposed through loadshedding,” said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Speaking at a press briefing at BNP's Nayapaltan central office, he also said power outages have become a terrible menace for the public, leaving people in the lurch.
“When I was coming from home today (Sunday), awful loadshedding was going on in Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi and other areas in the capital like other days,” the BNP leader said.
He said the ruling party leaders used to brag about having sent loadshedding to the museum. “But the skeleton of loadshedding has now revived from the museum and it’s now dancing on the boat (AL’s election symbol).”
Rizvi said development is hollow if there is no accountability, and it will blow up in the wind like a hydrogen balloon. “This is why the country is now witnessing the terrible loadshedding.”
He said the government’s main target was to loot public money and create scope for the ruling party-backed companies to make huge money in the name of development in the power sector. “That is why they have given an indemnity by enacting a law.”
About the Election Commission’s (EC’s) meeting with DCs and SPs, Rizvi said the commission is mainly working to implement the government’s agenda.
He said the Chief Election Commissioner is trying to mislead people and create confusion in public mind through his various comments: “They (EC) will basically do whatever the Prime Minister wants.”
The BNP leader said their party’s position is clear that no credible and participatory election is possible under the current government and the EC.
"A non-partisan caretaker government comprising the neutral persons must be established to hold a fair and credible election and BNP will join that polls,” he said.
Overthrowing govt is only option to end misrule: Fakhrul
Stating that an unbearable situation has been prevailing in the country, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Saturday that ousting the current government is the only option to overcome misrule and protect the country and its people.
“There is only one way left for us. That way is removing this government. Because they have already proved that they have done the most damage to Bangladesh," he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ unity (DRU) organised by Jatiyatabadi Ulema Dal, marking its 43rd founding anniversary.
Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s call to the opposition parties to join the next polls, Fakhrul said no election will be held in Bangladesh until a non-party neutral government is installed.
He said the country’s people will not participate in any polls like what happened in 2014 and 2018.
“We are trying to talk to all the political parties and bring them under the same umbrella. The first thing that needs to be done is to force the Prime Minister to resign by handing over power to an impartial caretaker government," the BNP leader said.
Besides, he said parliament must be dissolved and a fresh election commission will have to be formed under the caretaker government for holding a credible election.
Fakhrul called upon the alem-ulema to mobilise public support for waging a movement to restore democracy, and people’s rights and establish a pro-people government.
"We don't say anything unfair as we urge the government to come to the right path. We don’t say to put BNP in power. We say that whoever the people want, should be in power and they’ll run the country,” he observed.
Saying that the nation is going through a very difficult time, the BNP leader urged people from all walks of life to get united to defeat the current ‘fascist’ and ‘repressive’ regime. “It is very difficult for a democratic party to defeat a fascist force. So, we must get united.”
He said the government has let loose police to suppress the opposition leaders and activists by implicating them in ‘false’ cases.
“Many of us blame police. Police are just doing it at the behest of the government. It’s Sheikh Hasina and her government who are responsible for all the misdeeds. The crime of police is that they are obeying the illegal orders or instructions of the government.”
The BNP leader also slammed the government for its move to collect 'information about opposition leaders, activists and well-wishers by police across the country,” Fakhrul said.
Fakhrul also accused the government of regulating the media and politicising all the state institutions. “An intolerable atmosphere prevails everywhere in the country now. Everything, even the mosques, is being controlled by the government. I learned a few days ago that they (the govt) would determine the sermon of Jumaa prayers. What could be worse than that? They don't hesitate to do these things."
Though the people of Bangladesh believe in religious harmony and the freedom of religion, the BNP leader said the government is trying to create division among them and is continuing repression on people of all religions.
He alleged that the ruling party leaders are indulging in ‘widespread’ plundering and corruption in every sector like Bargis, a notorious group of the Maratha Empire in the 17th century.
“They have taken up many projects in the name of developing the power sector and siphoned off huge sum of money by indulging in plundering,” the BNP leader added.
Fakhrul bemoaned that many alem-ulema have been tortured and sent to jail by the incumbent government only for preaching Islam.
The BNP leader said the government has been trying to malign alem-ulema and harass them in many ways.
“They didn’t withdraw even a single case filed against the leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam,” Fakhrul concluded.